Rolando F. Roberto, M.D.

Chief Diversity Officer, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

To see if Rolando F. Roberto is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).

Reviews

Specialties

Adult and Pediatric Spinal Surgery

Department

Orthopaedic Surgery

Locations and Contact

Cannery Building

Spine Center
3301 C St.
Sacramento, CA 95816

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Additional Numbers

Physician Referrals

800-4-UCDAVIS (800-482-3284)

Philosophy of Care

Dr. Rolando Roberto is an adult and pediatric spine surgeon with UC Davis Davis Medical Center, UC Davis Children's Hospital. He is dedicated to providing world-class care to children in his community in a caring and supportive manner.

Clinical Interests

Dr. Roberto is an adult and pediatric spine surgeon with a particular interest in pediatric deformity and correction. He is Director of Spine Surgery at Shriners Hospital for Children.

Research/Academic Interests

Dr. Roberto's research focuses on spine surgery and correction. His research has included studies on cervical motion preservation and distal radius fixation. He has presented and published extensively in the areas of spinal deformity, spinal trauma, cervical disorders and recently on the prevention of spinal infections in elective spinal surgery. The recipient of many research grants, he has participated in numerous medical research studies.

In addition, Dr. Roberto has taken on the role of Chief Diversity Officer for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to work toward an even more inclusive and diverse spine community.

Division

Orthopaedic Surgery

Center/Program Affiliation

Spine Center

Undergraduate School

B.S., Biological Sciences, UC Irvine, Irvine CA 1985

Medical School

M.D., UC Irvine College of Medicine, Irvine CA 1989

Internship

General Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL 1989-1990

Residency

Orthopedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago IL 1990-1994

Fellowship

Spine Surgery, Minnesota Spine Center, Minneapolis MN 1994-1995

Faculty Teaching Award for Excellence, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery voted by the Graduating Chief Residents, 2019

Best Paper, North American Spine Society Meeting "Preoperative multimodal analgesia decreases 24-hour postoperative narcotic consumption in elective spinal fusion patients", 2018

Outstanding Faculty of the Year, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UC Davis School of Medicine, 2005, 2010, 2015

Outstanding Faculty Award, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Arizona. Teaching award conferred by graduating residents., 2002

Outstanding Faculty Award, Department of Orthopaedics, University of Arizona, 2000

Wick J, Le H, Wick K, Peddada K, Bacon A, Han G, Carroll T, Swinford S, Javidan Y, Roberto R, Martin A, Ebinu J, Kim K, Klineberg E. Patient Characteristics, Injury Types, and Costs Associated with Secondary Over-Triage of Isolated Cervical Spine Fractures. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2022 Mar 1;47(5):414-422. doi:10.1097/BRS.0000000000004190. PMID:34366413.

Eleswarapu A, O'Connor D, Rowan FA, Van Le H, Wick JB, Javidan Y, Rolando R, Klineberg EO. Sarcopenia Is an Independent Risk Factor for Proximal Junctional Disease Following Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery. Global Spine J. 2022 Jan;12(1):102-109. doi:10.1177/2192568220947050. Epub 2020 Aug 30. PMID:32865046.

Tumber S, Bacon A, Stondell C, Tafoya S, Taylor SL, Javidan Y, Klineberg E, Roberto R. High- versus low-dose tranexamic acid as part of a Patient Blood Management strategy for reducing blood loss in patients undergoing surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Spine Deform. 2022 Jan;10(1):107-113. doi:10.1007/s43390-021-00387-3. Epub 2021 Jul 16. PMID:34272686.

Eleswarapu A, Rowan FA, Le H, Wick JB, Roberto RF, Javidan Y, Klineberg EO. Efficacy, Cost, and Complications of Demineralized Bone Matrix in Instrumented Lumbar Fusion: Comparison With rhBMP-2. Global Spine J. 2021 Oct;11(8):1223-1229. doi:10.1177/2192568220942501. Epub 2020 Aug 4. PMID:32748702.

Haffner MR, Delman CM, Wick JB, Han G, Roberto RF, Javidan Y, Klineberg EO, Le HV. Osteoporosis Is Undertreated After Low-energy Vertebral Compression Fractures. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021 Sep 1;29(17):741-747. doi:10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01132. PMID:33826546.

Roberto RF, Rowan FA, Nallur D, Durbin-Johnson B, Javidan Y, Klineberg EO. Povidone-iodine irrigation combined with Vancomycin powder lowers infection rates in pediatric deformity surgery. Spine Deform. 2021 Sep;9(5):1315-1321. doi:10.1007/s43390-021-00333-3. Epub 2021 May 10. PMID:33970432.

Partridge E, Blumberg D, Roberto RF. Prevention of spinal fusion post-operative wound infections in pediatric patients with scoliosis: a quality improvement initiative. Spine Deform. 2021 Jul;9(4):955-958. doi:10.1007/s43390-020-00274-3. Epub 2021 Jan 13. Erratum in: Spine Deform. 2021 May;9(3):867. PMID:33442851.

Peddada KV, Allen J, Roberto R, Javidan Y, Klineberg EO. Older Patients More Accurately Predict Pain Tolerance After Lumbar Spine Fusion Compared with Their Younger Peers. World Neurosurg. 2021 May;149:e646-e650. doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.01.120. Epub 2021 Feb 12. PMID:33588079.

Fennessy J, Wick J, Scott F, Roberto R, Javidan Y, Klineberg E. The Utility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Detecting Unstable Cervical Spine Injuries in the Neurologically Intact Traumatized Patient Following Negative Computed Tomography Imaging. Int J Spine Surg. 2020 Dec;14(6):901-907. doi:10.14444/7138. Epub 2020 Dec 29. PMID:33560249.